Ignition apparatus for internal-combustion engines.



L. WOLFFSOHN. (NOW BY JUDICIAL CHANGE OF NAME L. M. WOOLSON.)

IGNITION APPARATUS FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES. APPLICATION FILEDMAR. 9. I915.

1,297,956. Patented Mar. 18, 1919 ZI 23 I9 2 '5 II g FIG. 1 a

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LIONEL WOLFFSOHN, (NOW BY JUDICIAL CHANGE OF NAME LIONEL M. WOOLSOIL) OFHOBOKEN, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO BIJ'UR MOTORAPPLIANCE COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

IGNITION APPARATUS FOR INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. '18, 1919.

Application filed March 9, 1915. Serial No. 13,096.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LIONEL WOLFFSOHN', a citizen of the United States.and residing at Hoboken, in the county of Hudson and State of NewJersey, have invented a new and Improved Ignition Apparatus forInternal- Combustion Engines, of which the following specification is afull disclosure.

This invention relates to ignition apparatus for internal combustionengines, and more particularly to apparatus of this nature for enginesliable to frequent speed changes such as those of motor vehicles.

One of the objects thereof is to provide simple and reliable apparatusof the above type for eliminating objectionable efi'ects of varyingspeed upon. the ignition of an en- -Another object is to provideapparatus of the above type of simple and inexpensive construction inwhich the action is substantially uniform as the speed is varied.

Another object is to provide apparatus of the above type in which theparts are guarded against injury in use.

Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed outhereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction,combinations of elements and arrangement of parts which will beexemplified in the construction hereinafter described, and the scope ofthe application of which will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawing in which are shown one or more of variouspossible embodiments of the several features of this invention Figure 1is a diagrammatic plan of one of the same.

Fig. 2 is a similar view of a portion of the same apparatus showing theparts in another position.

Fig. 3 is a similar view of a slightly different form of apparatus.

Fig. 4 is a similar view of another form of apparatus.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout theseveral views of the drawing.

Referring now to Fig. 1 of the drawing, there is shown a storage batteryor other source of current 1 in one of the leads of which, 2, there isinterposed the hand ignition switch 3. In the remaining battery lead 4there are serially connected, in parallel one with another, aninterrupter 5 and a condenser 6. This condenser performs its well knownfunction in reducing sparking, and the interrupter is alsoconventionally indicated as of a well known type in which the cam 7oscillates the lever 8 about the pivot 9, thus intermittently breakingthe circuit at the contacts 10. It may here be noted that the terminterrupter is used throughout in a broad sense to comprehend any deviceadapted periodically to break an electric circuit or vary the currenttherein.

The circuit of battery 1 leading past the interrupter 5 and condenser 6traverses the primary ignition coil 11 inductively related to thesecondary coil 12 which is operatively connected to the ignition devicediagrammatically indicated at 13. I

From the coil 11 the circuit branches into two parallel paths, one ofwhich comprises the resistance element 14. The second path, whichnormally forms a short circuit about this resistance element, comprisesconductors 15 and 16, respectively terminating in contacts 17 and 18.Contact 18 is mounted upon and insulated from the armature lever 19provided with a fixed pivot. 20 and normally retracted as by the spring21 which is adjustable as by the screw 22.

From the above parallel branches the circuit is completed as byconductor 23 1x) the battery lead 2. Bridged across the battery is a.voltage coil 24 which energizes the magnet 25, and is thus adapted toretract the armature 19 and break circuit between the contacts 17 and 18as indicated in Fig. 2 of the drawing.

As conducive to a better understanding of the above apparatus it may benoted at this point that as the speed of an interrupter in ignitionapparatus increases there is a likelihood that the current in theprimary coil of the induction coil will not attain its full value priorto its interruption. This is due to the fact that this coil, due to itsinductan'ce, has a substantial time constant. and the duration ofcurrent flow is not sufficient to permit the primary current to reachthe proper value which it would gain with a slower frequency of actionof the interrupter. There is thus a tendency to fault-y ignition at highspeeds. If it be attempted to do away with this defective action by soproportioning the parts and the current source that an ample currentwill. flow in the primary coil, even at the highest speed of the engine,then as the engine speed decreases there is a marked tendency toexcessive current in toe primary coil with a consequent heating oi thecoil and arcing at the interrupter contacts.

Considering now the action of the above apparatus it. may be at theparts are so chosen and disposed that at the highest engine speed therewill still be ample current in the primary coil 11. At low speed,however, before the current coil 11 can attain objectionable value, thecoil is sufhciently energized to swing contact 18 away from contactll",and thus breal he shunt about the resistance element eli ectiveresistance of the main circuit is thus greatly increased and anexcessive current in 11, with the above noted disadvantages, isprevented.

As the engine speeds up ll value in which the action of the "protectivedevice is unnecessary and the la l inoperative. At this stage, the isthe protective device becomes inopeiative, the value of the currentreached in coil 11 will he even greater than that attained at low,speeds, and hence the ei ective current is increased at an increasedspeed of the interrtngter. Beyond this point, as the speed increasescurrent in coil 11 is slightly decreased due to its inductance as abovenoted, but even at the highestspc-ed aniple current is provided. It willthus be seen that is its lag in action after the circuit is completedthrough coil 11, is utilized neutralize the objectionable effect of theinductance of coilli, for it is this inductive lag in coil Q-l whichprevents an instant and premature breaking of the shunt about resistancei l, thus cutting down the current atthe highest interrupter speed, aneiiect which is, oi"? course, undesired. The lag; in action of coil 2with respect to the rupter may be adjusted to the proper v 1 either byadjusting its inductance or, as nere shown, by ad usting; the effect ofthe re- .racting spring. Also the resistance 1% chosen at the propervalue may he actjustable it desired.

it will be seen that by utilizing the voltage control here shown thetime of action of the magnetic protective device, other things beingfixed, depends solely upon its inductance, and this may be chosen at anydesired value. It may also lee noted that should the or us stop in sucha position that the path through the interrupter is closed, and for anyreason the hand switch 3 has been left closed with the glue in suchposition, then the relay device will act to limit the current leahage aswell as avoid heating of the parts.

Referring now to Fig. 3 of the drawing, there is shown apparatus whichis assumed to be connected with the battery, hand switch andinterrupting mechanism indicated in Fig. 1, in. this apparatus the relaycoil is also a voltage coil, but is connected. with. contact 17 insteadof the hattery lead 2. The action of this apparatus is closely similarto that immediately above described in protecting the coil 11 againstheavy current. i may be noted, however, that whenever contacts 17 and 18are separated the circuit through coil 25 is interrupted and the magnetaccordingly deenertired. There is'an advantage inherent in thisconstruction in that even it the engine be stopped with the hand switchclosed and the circuit also closed through the interrupt-er, theprotective device will not only serve to lessen leakage and preventinjury, but will act as a buzzer and give an audible signal to thedriver.

In or the drawing there is another arrangement of circuits, also assumedto be connected with the source of current supply and circuit breakingdevice shown in l i l. in this arrangement the relay coil 26 is notvoltage controlled hut comprises a few hea zurns through which the maincurrent is transmitted. This form or device operales when the currenttherein, and consequently the current in coil 11, reaches a predeermined value and hence exactly limits the primary current under allconditions of running.

it will thus be seen there is provided apparatus in which the variousobjects of this invention are achieved, and that this a ijliaratus is ofsimple and inexpensive cons ruction, but is, nevertheless, or"dependable and accurately predetermined action.

As many changes might be made in the shore construction, and as manyapparently different embodiments might be made of this invention withoutdeparting from the scope thereof, is intended that all features hereindescribed or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted asillustrative and not in a limiting sense.

loving thus revealed this invention, 1 claim as new and desire to securethe following combinations of elements, or equivalents thereof, byLetters Patent of the United States:

1. In ignition apparatus for internal combustion engines, incombination, a source or" current, an interrupter and a coil connectedwith said source of current, rneans adapted to oppose by ohmicresistance the rise of current in said coil, means adapted to rendersaid opposing means operative subsequent to the closing of the circuitthrough coil, andnieans adapted to adjust the period between the closingof said circuit 2. In ignition apparatus for internal combustionengines, in combination, a source of current, an interrupter and a 0011connected 'with said source of current, electro-magnetically actuatedmeans adapted to oppose the rise of current in said coil, and meansadapted to render said opposing means operative subsequent to theclosing of the circuit through said coil, said opposing means beingconnected with said source of current independently of said coil.

3. In ignition apparatus for internal combustion engines, incombination, a source of current, an interrupter and a coil connectedwith said source of current, electro-magnetically actuatedmeans adaptedto oppose the rise of current in said coil, and means adapted to rendersaid opposing means operative subsequent to the closing of the circuitthrough said coil, said electro-magnetic means being voltage controlled.

4. In ignition apparatus for internal combustion engines, incombination, a source of current, an interrupter and a coil connectedwith said source of current, means adapted to limit the value which thecurrent in said coil attains as the frequency of action of saidinterrupter decreases, and means to adjust said limiting means.

5. In ignition apparatus for internal combustion engines, incombination, a source of current, an interrupter and a coil connectedwith said source of current, .electro-magnetically actuated meansadapted to limit the value which the current in said coil attains as thefrequency of action of said interrupter decreases, said limitingmeansbeing voltage controlled.

6. In ignition apparatus for internal combustion engines, incombination, a source of current, an interrupter and a coil connectedwith said source of current, electro-magnetically actuated means adaptedto limit the value which the current in said coil attains as thefrequency of action of said interrupter decreases, and means to adjustsaid limiting means.

7. In ignition apparatus for internal combustion engines, incombination, an .electric circuit comprising a member having substantialinductance; a devlce for periodically varying the current in. saidcircuit and electro-magnetically actuated means adapted to compensatefor the effect of such inductance in tending to cut down said current asthe frequency of its variation increases, said electro-magnetic meansbeing voltage controlled.

8. In ignition apparatus for internal combustion engines, incombination, an electric circuit comprising a member having substantialinductance; a device for periodically varying the current in saidcircuit, electro-magnetically actuated means adapted to compensate forthe eflect of such inductance in tending to cut downsaid current as thetendency of its variation increases, and means to adjust saidelectro-magnetically actuated means.

9. In ignition apparatus for internal combustion engines, incombination, an electric circuit comprising a coil and a source ofcurrent, a device for periodically varying the current in said coil, avoltage coil connected with said source of current, and a devicemagnetically actuated by said second coil to increase the resistance ofthe circuit of said first coil upon the frequency of action of saidcurrent varying device decreasing.

10. In ignition apparatus for internal combustion engines, incombination, a source of current, a primary coil and an interrupter incircuit with said source of current, a resistance member seriallyconnected with respect to said coil and normally short-circuited, asecondary coil coacting with said primary coil, a voltage coil connectedacross said source of current, and a device adapted periodically tobreak said short-circuit bv the magnetic action of said voltage 001].

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name, as attested by the twosubscribing witnesses.

LIONEL WOLFFSOHN.

Witnesses R. S. BLAIR, Dnnos G. Harms.

